Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Root traits predict decomposition across a landscape-scale grazing experiment.

Stuart W Smith1, Sarah J Woodin, Robin J Pakeman

  • 1IBES, University of Aberdeen, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK; The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK; ACES, University of Aberdeen, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.

The New Phytologist
|May 21, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Biomimetic sponges improve muscle structure and function following volumetric muscle loss.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2021
Same author

Neurodevelopmental, Cognitive, and Psychosocial Outcomes for Individuals With Pathogenic Variants in the TCF12 Gene and Associated Craniosynostosis.

The Journal of craniofacial surgery·2021
Same author

Plant communities affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and community composition in grassland microcosms.

The New phytologist·2021
Same author

Prevention of docetaxel-associated febrile neutropenia with primary granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in Chinese metastatic hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.

Asia-Pacific journal of clinical oncology·2021
Same author

The effects of maturity matched and un-matched opposition on physical performance and spatial exploration behavior during youth basketball matches.

PloS one·2021
Same author

Psychometric Validation of the FACE-Q Craniofacial Module for Facial Nerve Paralysis.

Facial plastic surgery & aesthetic medicine·2021

Large herbivores impact soil carbon by altering plant species, not soil conditions. Root traits, like phosphorus content and specific root area, are key drivers of decomposition rates in grasslands.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Soil Science
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Root litter is a primary source of soil carbon and nutrients in ecosystems.
  • Understanding landscape-scale regulation of root decomposition and land-use impacts is crucial.
  • Large herbivores may influence decomposition via soil microclimate and plant community shifts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how large herbivores affect below-ground decomposition at the landscape scale.
  • To determine the relative importance of microclimate versus plant species composition in herbivore-mediated decomposition.
  • To identify key root traits influencing decomposition rates.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified annual root decomposition of grassland species in situ across a grazing experiment.
Keywords:
carbon (C)grasslandgrazingnitrogen (N)plant traitsroot decompositionsoil moisturesoil temperature

Related Experiment Videos

  • Conducted a common-garden experiment to assess species-specific decomposition.
  • Used laboratory microcosms to evaluate the influence of root traits (specific root area, phosphorus concentration) on decomposition.

    • Main Results:

    • Livestock grazing increased soil temperature but did not affect root decomposition rates.
    • Soil moisture did not differ between grazing treatments; wetter soils slowed decomposition.
    • Species-specific decomposition rates were consistent across grazing treatments, highlighting the importance of litter type.
    • Roots with lower specific root area and higher phosphorus decomposed faster in microcosms.

    Conclusions:

    • Large herbivores primarily influence below-ground carbon and nitrogen dynamics through shifts in plant species composition and root traits.
    • Microclimate effects of grazing on root decomposition appear secondary to changes in root litter quality.
    • Root traits such as specific root area and phosphorus concentration are critical determinants of decomposition speed.